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MEX Notes: Google plays catch-up with offline mapping

New Google Maps Mobile App Offers Downloadable Maps For Offline Navigation – Google Maps may be the most frequently used mobile service in the UK (see yesterday's post on ComScore's stats), but the user experience is compromised by the requirement for a data connection. This is one area where Nokia's Symbian devices have a significant user experience advantage: they are equipped with offline maps with fully searchable, turn-by-turn navigation as a standard feature. Given that mapping is frequently at its most useful in foreign countries, where data roaming is expensive, this capability is highly prized by Symbian users. In the last week alone, I have used it to navigate in 3 different countries, without incurring any roaming costs. Google's new feature, which lacks navigation or even the ability to search, is just a small step towards catching up. It will need to improve further.

Author

Marek Pawlowski is the founder of MEX. Since 1995, he has focused the MEX business on helping digital industries to develop better, more profitable products through improved understanding of user behaviour with mobile devices and wireless networks. MEX is best known for its events, research and consulting, which balance commercial, technical and user insights to define the future of mobile user experience.